JP6055513B2 - UV sterilization method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization method using ultraviolet rays.

  Unlike sterilization by chemicals, ultraviolet sterilization has no remaining material, is highly safe, and hardly changes the irradiated object. Therefore, it is suitable as a sterilization method for foods and medical products that require safety and security. And it is proposed to use ultraviolet sterilization for sterilization in various scenes.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 describe the following ultraviolet sterilizers, respectively. That is, in Patent Document 1, the periphery is made of a material having permeability to ultraviolet light having a bactericidal action, and is disposed outside the flow path for flowing a sterilized body made of fluid. And a light source that emits ultraviolet light having a sterilizing action, and an ultraviolet sterilization device that performs sterilization by irradiating the object to be sterilized flowing in the flow path with the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source.

Patent Document 2 is a wastewater treatment apparatus for treating organic matter in wastewater, and is provided with at least one wastewater treatment tank for storing wastewater, a light source for irradiating ultraviolet light, and a wastewater treatment tank. A photocatalyst is provided on the surface of the light guide that guides the irradiated ultraviolet light and the surface of the leaking light guide having a light refractive index equal to or higher than that of the light guide and leaking ultraviolet light from the light guide. A photocatalyst-coated leaky light guide that is coated with a photocatalyst layer, a light guide that guides ultraviolet light irradiated from a light source to the photocatalyst-coated leaky light guide, and a photocatalyst coating that is provided in the wastewater treatment tank. An oxygen supply unit that supplies oxygen toward the leaking light guide, and decomposes and removes organic matter in the wastewater by ozone (O ₃ ) generated by the oxygen supplied from the photocatalyst and the oxygen supply unit. A wastewater treatment device is described.

  In Patent Document 3, a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs are arranged on the surface and the back surfaces of the first heat transfer plate and the second heat transfer plate each provided with a protective cover that covers the ultraviolet LEDs in a watertight state are connected to the first heat transfer plate. An ultraviolet irradiation water treatment apparatus is described in which an LED module in which the ultraviolet LED of the plate and the ultraviolet LED of the second heat transfer plate are combined so as not to overlap each other is disposed inside the treatment tank.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a flow path for circulating a sterilized body made of a fluid, the periphery of which is made of a material having permeability to deep ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 to 350 nm having a bactericidal action, A light source that emits the deep ultraviolet light that is disposed outside and has a sterilizing action, and sterilizes by irradiating the deep ultraviolet light emitted from the light source onto a body to be sterilized that circulates in the flow path In the sterilizing apparatus, the light source includes a plurality of “ultraviolet light emitting elements that emit deep ultraviolet rays” on a side surface of a cylindrical or polygonal column base, and an optical axis of each ultraviolet light emitting element is the cylindrical or polygonal column shape. An ultraviolet light emitting element arrangement base disposed so as to pass through the central axis of the base so that the deep ultraviolet rays are emitted radially with respect to the central axis, and a cover formed of a deep ultraviolet transparent material. Have The cover covers the ultraviolet light emitting element arrangement substrate and is hermetically attached to the ultraviolet light emitting element arrangement substrate so as to enclose an inert gas or dry air therein. It comprises a deep ultraviolet light emitting module in which a cooling medium flow path is formed and the cooling medium is circulated through the cooling medium flow path. The light source is disposed on the focal axis of a reflecting mirror, and has a condensing deep ultraviolet emitting unit that collects and emits the deep ultraviolet rays emitted radially from the light source, and from the condensed deep ultraviolet emitting unit An ultraviolet sterilizer characterized by irradiating the object to be sterilized with the collected deep ultraviolet light emitted is described.

  Further, Patent Document 5 includes a light source and a light guide plate on which the light source is arranged on a side surface, and at least one of the front surface or the back surface of the light guide plate is a light emitting surface that emits light from the light source. A surface light emitting device is described in which a surface other than a light emitting surface of a light plate and a side surface on which a light source is disposed is formed as a light shielding surface, and emits light having a peak wavelength of 388 nm or less.

International Publication No. 2010/058607 Japanese Patent No. 5568801 JP2012-115715A JP 2014-87544 A JP 2006-237563 A

  It is known that the transmittance of ultraviolet rays varies depending on the type of substance. For example, although the UV transmittance of pure water is relatively high, the UV transmittance is decreased in aqueous solutions in which solutes that absorb UV rays are dissolved and suspensions that contain suspended substances that absorb or scatter UV rays. Varies significantly depending on the type and content of solutes and suspended solids. Specifically, the thickness (light path length: the length of light transmitted through the sample) is 300 mm when the transmittance for ultraviolet rays of 253.7 nm is 10% in distilled water, whereas milk and juice Are known to be 0.07 mm and 0.5-1 mm, respectively. Therefore, there is a concern that sterilization may be insufficient when ultraviolet sterilization is attempted on the solution or suspension by the conventional techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

  In the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, the object to be sterilized is in contact with an “ultraviolet transmissive window material” attached to a portion where ultraviolet rays are emitted from an ultraviolet irradiation device (or ultraviolet sterilization device). Because irradiating with ultraviolet rays, solute components and suspended substances of the object to be sterilized adhere to the window material, and it is necessary to periodically clean the window material using a large-scale method such as washing with water or disassembly. It was.

  Furthermore, in these prior arts, even when sufficient sterilization can be performed by ultraviolet irradiation, microorganisms are mixed again when the object to be sterilized is filled in a container or stored in a tank after sterilization. There is a risk.

  Therefore, the present invention is, for example, a liquid sterilized body such as a liquid medicine such as a beverage or a drip infusion such as juice or milk, and a paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like sterilized body such as nursing foods and desserts. Highly reliable UV sterilization is possible even for a material to be sterilized with a low UV transmittance, and it is possible to substantially eliminate the work of cleaning the UV transparent window material in the UV irradiation device, and there is a risk of re-contamination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilization method with a small amount.

The ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention includes a flexible bag or a heat sealable resin obtained by forming an ultraviolet transmissive film made of a heat sealable resin from a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like object to be sterilized. A filling step of filling an ultraviolet ray permeable container made of a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet ray permeable laminated resin film comprising a layer, and ultraviolet rays from the outside of the container filled with an object to be sterilized by the filling step And a sealing step for hermetically sealing the container filled with the object to be sterilized, wherein a gap having a predetermined width is provided in the ultraviolet irradiation step. In a space between a pair of partition walls arranged so as to face each other, the surface of the ultraviolet light transmissive container filled with the sterilized body is disposed close to or in contact with the partition wall, and the killed The UV transparent container body is filled, from its front and / or back side, nipped by 1 or 2 of ultraviolet light emitting surface provided on one or both of the two surfaces of opposing the pair of partition walls the and deformed so as the thickness of the UV transparent container is reduced, during the period from the ultraviolet light emitting surface irradiating ultraviolet radiation, until the ultraviolet irradiation step with the sealing step after the filling process is completed is completed Or the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing step are performed in the same aseptic environment.

  In the method of the present invention, since the re-contamination can be surely prevented, the ultraviolet transmissive container is a flexible bag or heat seal formed by making an ultraviolet transmissive film made of a heat sealable resin. It is a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet transmissive laminated resin film containing a conductive resin layer, and the sealing step is preferably performed by heat-sealing the opening of the flexible bag. .

In the method of the present invention, in the ultraviolet irradiation step, the “maximum length of the optical axis of the irradiated ultraviolet rays across the container” or “intensity of irradiated ultraviolet light” in the ultraviolet transmissive container is controlled, The irradiance of ultraviolet rays at an arbitrary position of the filled object to be sterilized is 0.01 mW / cm ² or more, preferably 0.03 mW / cm ² or more, and most preferably 0.05 mW / cm ² or more. Is preferably characterized.

  In the present invention, from the viewpoint of storage stability of the object to be sterilized, the method further includes an ultraviolet shielding process for performing an ultraviolet shielding process on the outer surface of the ultraviolet transmissive container sealed by the sealing process. It is preferable.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use an ultraviolet light source having an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) for reasons such as no standby time, no mercury, easy maintenance and long life. It is particularly preferable to use a deep ultraviolet light emitting diode (DUV-LED) having a main peak of emission wavelength in the wavelength region of 200 nm to 300 nm, particularly in the wavelength region of 220 nm to 280 nm.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a method for producing a container-packed article in which a UV-sterilized food, cosmetic, quasi-drug, or pharmaceutical is enclosed in a container, and the fluid food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical Container packaging comprising the steps of filling an object to be sterilized consisting of an quasi-drug or pharmaceutical product into the container of the object to be sterilized by the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention, ultraviolet sterilization, and sealing the container. It is a manufacturing method of a filling article.

  In the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention, an object to be sterilized is brought into contact with the window material of the ultraviolet irradiator or the ultraviolet sterilizer because the object to be sterilized is filled in an ultraviolet transparent container and irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the outside of the container. The window material will not get dirty. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform disassembly and cleaning, and it is possible to always maintain a clean state (a state in which the ultraviolet ray transmission is high) by a simple operation such as a wiping operation for light dirt such as adhesion of dust.

  In the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention, the sealing step is performed after the filling step is completed until the ultraviolet irradiation step is completed, or the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing step are the same. Since it is performed in an aseptic environment, recontamination after UV sterilization can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention, a heat-sealable resin is used as a container, using a sterilized body that can be freely deformed according to the deformation of the container, such as a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like sterilized body. In the case of using a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet transmissive film made of or a flexible bag made by making an ultraviolet transmissive laminated resin film containing a heat-sealable resin layer, a container Therefore, it is possible to irradiate ultraviolet rays by deforming it so as to be thin, and easily irradiate ultraviolet rays sufficiently to the inside, so that the certainty of sterilization can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the method of the present invention, when an ultraviolet shielding process for applying an ultraviolet shielding process to the outer surface of the ultraviolet transparent container sealed by the sealing process is added, the ultraviolet sealed container is enclosed. When a sterilized object to be sterilized is stored for a long period of time, it is possible to prevent deterioration of contents (sterilized object to be sterilized) and deterioration of the container due to ultraviolet rays from nature.

  In so-called retort food, it is necessary to sterilize under pressure and heat after enclosing the food in a retort pouch, whereas in the method of the present invention, no pressurization or heating is required. Sterilization of objects to be sterilized that cannot be heated or pressurized, such as food, raw soy sauce, raw sake, and draft beer, is also possible.

  In addition, according to the method for producing a container-packed article of the present invention, while obtaining the effect of the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention as described above, it is possible to apply a fluid food, cosmetic, quasi-drug or pharmaceutical container to the container. Filling, UV sterilization and container sealing can be performed. And compared with the case where heat-and-pressure sterilization is performed, there exists an advantage that an apparatus is simple, energy cost is small, and the time which manufacture can be shortened.

This figure is a cross-sectional view of an ultraviolet sterilizer that can be suitably used in the ultraviolet irradiation step of the method of the present invention. This figure is a transverse sectional view and a longitudinal sectional view of an ultraviolet light emitting module that can be suitably used in the ultraviolet sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. This figure is a schematic diagram for explaining a preferred embodiment of the ultraviolet irradiation step of the method of the present invention. This figure is the schematic of the ultraviolet irradiation unit used suitably by the aspect shown in FIG. This figure is the schematic of another ultraviolet irradiation unit used suitably with the aspect shown in FIG. This figure is the schematic of another ultraviolet irradiation unit used suitably by the aspect shown in FIG. This figure is a cross-sectional view of a light source (condensing modularized light source) in the ultraviolet irradiation unit shown in FIG. This figure is a side view of a light source (condensing modularized light source) in the ultraviolet irradiation unit shown in FIG.

The ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention includes a flexible bag or a heat sealable resin obtained by forming an ultraviolet transmissive film made of a heat sealable resin from a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like object to be sterilized. A filling step of filling an ultraviolet ray permeable container made of a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet ray permeable laminated resin film comprising a layer, and ultraviolet rays from the outside of the container filled with an object to be sterilized by the filling step And a sealing step for hermetically sealing the container filled with the object to be sterilized, wherein a gap having a predetermined width is provided in the ultraviolet irradiation step. In a space between a pair of partition walls arranged so as to face each other, the surface of the ultraviolet light transmissive container filled with the sterilized body is disposed close to or in contact with the partition wall, and the killed The UV transparent container body is filled, from its front and / or back side, nipped by 1 or 2 of ultraviolet light emitting surface provided on one or both of the two surfaces of opposing the pair of partition walls the and deformed so as the thickness of the UV transparent container is reduced, until the ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the ultraviolet light-emitting surface, the ultraviolet irradiation step is completed the sealing step after the filling process is completed Or the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing step are performed in the same aseptic environment.

  The material to be sterilized in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can be filled in a container, but because of the remarkable effect of ultraviolet sterilization of the present invention, it has a transmittance of 253.7 nm for ultraviolet light. It is preferable that the material to be sterilized has a fluidity with a thickness of 10% (optical path length: a length through which light passes through the sample) of 100 mm or less and 0.001 mm or more. In particular, a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like object to be sterilized having a thickness of 10 mm or less and 0.001 mm is particularly preferable. Examples of such an object to be sterilized include fluid foods (including beverages), cosmetics, quasi drugs, and pharmaceuticals. Specifically, examples of the food include liquid foods, liquid seasonings, edible oils, alcoholic beverages, beverages, yogurt, ice cream, and jelly. Examples of cosmetics include cosmetics for skin, such as cosmetic liquids, lotions, creams, milky lotions, face wash, cosmetics for finishing such as foundations and makeup bases, perfumes, and colognes. Examples of quasi-drugs include nutritional drinks, toothpastes, and hair care products. Examples of pharmaceuticals include eye drops, various drops, various injections, and various ointments. Among these, for those that are not suitable for pressure heat sterilization, such as raw milk, fresh juice, raw sake, draft beer, raw soy sauce, and the like containing active ingredients that decompose or deteriorate by pressure heating, etc., the effect of the present invention. Since these are particularly remarkable, it is particularly preferable to use them as sterilized bodies.

  The ultraviolet transmissive container used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a container made of an ultraviolet transmissive material. Further, the UV transparent container only needs to be made of an ultraviolet transparent material at a portion that comes into contact with the object to be sterilized when the object to be sterilized is filled. There is no need. As the ultraviolet transmissive material, it is preferable to use an ultraviolet transmissive resin from the viewpoint of easy manufacture of the container.

The ultraviolet transmissive resin is preferably a resin having transparency to deep ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, particularly 220 nm to 280 nm. Examples of such a resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylterpene, and the like. Fluorine resin such as polyolefin resin or polyolefin copolymer resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, methacryl resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin, alicyclic polyimide resin, polyamide resin , Polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol resin (both preferably do not contain additives such as ultraviolet absorbers and plasticizers that absorb ultraviolet rays irradiated in the ultraviolet irradiation step), and the like. Among these resins, it is preferable to use a polyolefin resin or a polyolefin copolymer resin having high heat sealability. These ultraviolet light transmitting resins may be used alone or in a composite form such as a laminate. As for the ultraviolet transmittance of the resin film, “Touzo Matsui, Yoshihiro Shimizu,“ Ultraviolet transmittance of plastic film II ”, Toyo Shokuhin Institute of Technology, Toyo Food Research Laboratory, 102-111 (1967)” Data is described in “Technical Document GX-27e“ Neofrene _TM Film ””, http://jp.mitsuichem.com/service/functional_polymeric/polymers/tpx/spec.htm, etc.

  The shape of the ultraviolet transmissive container is not particularly limited, and may be any of a bag-shaped container, a box-shaped container, and a bottle-shaped container, and may have other shapes. However, from the viewpoint of ultraviolet transparency, the thickness of the container material (thickness of the partition wall, sheet, or film separating the outer side and the inner side of the container) is preferably thin as long as it has a strength capable of holding the contents. A preferable thickness of the container material is 5 μm or more and 1 mm or less, a more preferable thickness is 10 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and a particularly preferable thickness is 20 μm or more and 300 μm or less. Further, the transmittance of the container material (a partition wall, a sheet or a film separating the outside and the inside) with respect to the irradiated ultraviolet rays is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and 75% or more. Most preferred.

  Among these containers made of UV permeable resin, from the viewpoint that heat sealing is possible in the sealing process, the container made of UV transmissive resin is made by making an ultraviolet transmissive film made of heat sealable resin. It is preferable that it is a flexible bag formed by making a flexible bag or an ultraviolet ray transmissive laminated resin film containing a heat-sealable resin layer. In addition, as an ultraviolet permeable laminated resin film which comprises a heat-sealable resin layer, what is disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2013-534874 can be mentioned, for example.

  As the flexible bag, a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet transparent film made of a heat-sealable resin or an ultraviolet-permeable laminated resin film containing a heat-sealable resin layer is made. The form is not limited as long as it is a flexible bag and has an opening for filling an object to be sterilized. Two-sided bag, three-sided bag, gusset bag, bottom gusset bag, stand bag, side seal bag A known form such as a bottom seal bag can be employed. These bags may have a spout, a zipper or a chuck.

  The filling step is not particularly different from the conventional filling step except that an ultraviolet transmissive resin container is used as the container, and can be performed using, for example, an automatic pouch filling machine or an automatic bottle filling machine.

  The sealing step is performed by hermetically sealing the container. As the sealing method, heat sealing or adhesion using an adhesive can be suitably employed when the container is in a bag shape, and capping can be suitably employed when the container is in a bottle shape. In sealing, a gas replacement process or a deaeration process can also be performed. These treatments can be easily performed using a dedicated device generally used in so-called vacuum packaging or gas-filled packaging.

  In the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention, the sealing step is performed between the completion of the filling step and the completion of the ultraviolet irradiation step (details will be described later), or the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing. The stopping process is performed under the same aseptic environment. Here, performing in the same aseptic environment means that the object to be sterilized is in a sterilized space such as an indoor space that is sufficiently sterilized and positively supplied with sterilized air. This means that the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing step are carried out without taking out the container filled with. At this time, the sealing step can be performed after the ultraviolet irradiation.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation step, ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the outside of the container filled with the sterilized body. The ultraviolet rays irradiated at this time are preferably deep ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, particularly 220 nm to 280 nm. In addition, as an ultraviolet light source, an ultraviolet lamp such as a mercury lamp can be used. However, when applied to an industrial manufacturing process, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED), particularly a depth of a preferable wavelength described above. It is preferable to use a deep ultraviolet light emitting diode (DUV-LED) that emits ultraviolet light. This is because the UV-LED (or DUV-LED) has advantages such as not using mercury, no standby time, low power consumption, and high durability as compared with the mercury lamp. As the DUV-LED, those having a main peak in the wavelength range of 200 nm to 300 nm, particularly in the range of 220 nm to 280 nm can be preferably used.

In the ultraviolet irradiation step, the method of irradiating ultraviolet rays from the outside of the container filled with the object to be sterilized is not particularly limited, but when using an object to be sterilized with low ultraviolet transmittance, irradiate strong ultraviolet light. It is preferable. As described above, in an object to be sterilized made of a solution or a suspension, the intensity of irradiated ultraviolet rays rapidly attenuates as the length in the thickness direction of the object to be sterilized becomes longer (depth becomes deeper). It will not reach the object to be sterilized. Therefore, in order to make the ultraviolet rays reach the inside, the width of the container (the maximum length of the optical axis of the irradiated ultraviolet rays across the container. For example, W in FIG. 3) is reduced (thin) or the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet rays is increased. There is a need to. In the method of the present invention, the irradiance of ultraviolet rays at an arbitrary position of the article to be sterilized filled in the container by controlling the width or ultraviolet intensity of the container is 0.01 mW / cm ² or more, particularly preferably 0. It is preferable to be 03 mW / cm ² or more, most preferably 0.05 mW / cm ² or more. The higher the irradiance, the better, and there is no special meaning in setting the upper limit, but it is generally 1 W / cm ² or less.

The value of the irradiance: 0.01 mW / cm ² , 0.03 mW / cm ^2, or 0.05 mW / cm ² is not critical for the numerical value itself, and is an industrially practical treatment. It is an index determined from the viewpoint that an effective bactericidal effect can be obtained in time (ultraviolet irradiation time). For example, when considering the sterilization of Escherichia coli whose ultraviolet irradiation amount (integrated irradiation amount) necessary for inactivation of 99.9% is about 10 mJ / cm ² (= mW · sec / cm ² ), 0.01 mW / cm ^For irradiance of ² , 0.03 mW / cm ² and 0.05 mW / cm ² , 1,000 seconds (16 minutes 40 seconds), 333 seconds (5 minutes 33 seconds) and 200 seconds (3 minutes 20 seconds), respectively. 99.9% inactivation becomes possible by irradiation. Incidentally, the retort food is sterilized under pressure and heat at a center temperature of 120 ° C. for 4 minutes or more.

In order to satisfy such conditions, (i) when ultraviolet rays are irradiated from one direction and (ii) when ultraviolet rays are irradiated from two opposite directions on the same optical axis, It is preferable to do the following. That is, when the partition wall, sheet or film partitioning the outside and inside of the container is T (%), and (i) when irradiating ultraviolet rays from one direction, the liquid to be sterilized The irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet light when passing through a container filled with 0.01 (mW / cm ² ) × T / 100 = T × 10 ⁻⁴ (mW / cm ² ) or more, preferably 3T × 10 ^{− 4} (mW / cm ² ) or more, most preferably 5T × 10 ⁻⁴ (mW / cm ² ) or more. Further, (ii) when the ultraviolet rays are irradiated from two directions facing each other on the same optical axis, the irradiance of the ultraviolet rays at the central portion in the container should be 0.01 mW / cm ² or more. preferably, it is more preferable to make the 0.03 mW / cm ² or more, and most preferable to be 0.05 mW / cm ² or more.

  By examining the relationship between the optical path length and the irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet rays in advance by, for example, the procedures shown in the following steps (a) to (d), In the case of (ii), the irradiance at each position can be easily estimated.

(A) Step S101 for filling an object to be sterilized inside an ultraviolet transmissive optical measurement cell having a predetermined optical path length (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “cell”);
(B) A step S102 in which an ultraviolet light emitting surface of the ultraviolet irradiation device is brought into close contact with the cell, and ultraviolet light emitted under the same light emission conditions as in the sterilization treatment is irradiated from the ultraviolet light emitting surface toward the inside of the cell;
(C) Step S15 of measuring the irradiance (unit: mW / cm ² ) of the transmitted ultraviolet light that has passed through the cell;
(D) Step S104 for obtaining the relationship between the irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet rays and the optical path length by performing the above steps (a) to (c) (S101 to S103) for a plurality of cells having different optical path lengths;
In the steps (d) to (d) (S104 to S104), the relationship between the irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet rays and the optical path length follows Lambert-Beer's law. That is, the irradiance I ₁ of transmitted ultraviolet rays is in the relationship of the following equation (1) with respect to the optical path length L.
log (I ₁ / I ₀ ) = − αL (1)
In equation (1), I ₀ is the irradiance of ultraviolet light having a wavelength λ before entering the medium, and α is a proportionality constant (absorption coefficient) determined corresponding to the sterilized object and the wavelength λ _peak . In general, since the peak width of the emission spectrum of the light emitting diode is extremely narrow, in discussing the dependence of the irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet light on the optical path length, only the extinction coefficient α (λ _peak ) at the emission peak wavelength λ _peak of the deep ultraviolet light emitting diode. Is enough. Equation (1) can be transformed into the following equation (2).
logI ₁ = −αL + logI ₀ (2)
Therefore, by obtaining a plurality of pairs of the logarithm of the transmitted ultraviolet irradiance I _{1 at} the main peak wavelength λ _peak and the optical path length L of the cell, the transmitted ultraviolet irradiance I ₁ and the optical path length L at the main peak wavelength λ _peak Can be obtained (regression step (S104)). For example, a known method such as a least square method can be used to calculate the regression line.

  In the case of (i) and (ii) above, in order to easily estimate the irradiance at each position, based on the relationship between the optical path length confirmed as described above and the irradiance of transmitted ultraviolet rays, It is necessary to perform correction based on the ultraviolet transmittance T (%) of the container material. This is because ultraviolet rays pass through the container material (a partition wall, sheet or film separating the outside and inside of the container) and irradiate the object to be sterilized.

  Although such a method seems to enable estimation with considerably high accuracy, it is preferable to finally perform confirmation under actual use conditions in an actual machine. As long as the conditions are stable, the results will not change.Therefore, it is not necessary to make such a check every time. It may be performed periodically after a period of.

In controlling the width or intensity of ultraviolet light container vessel it is flexible bags, since it is deformable (to deform the container can control the width), the vessel width and / or intensity of ultraviolet Control is sufficient.

  Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), especially deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (DUV-LEDs), not only have a weaker light output than ultraviolet lamps, but also have a higher directivity of emitted ultraviolet light, so the ultraviolet irradiation area is narrow. turn into. Therefore, it is particularly difficult to control the width of the container, and when UV-LED or DUV-LED is used as the light source, strong intensity is applied over the entire surface to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays of the ultraviolet transmissive container. It is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet rays.

  As a method of irradiating the ultraviolet ray with strong intensity over the entire surface to be irradiated with the ultraviolet ray of the ultraviolet transmissive container, a method of increasing the irradiance using condensing or using a step-up DC-DC converter or a charge pump is high. It is preferable to employ a method in which a forward current is supplied to increase the light emission output (in this case, pulse light emission may be performed as necessary).

  For example, a UV transparent container is a hollow object such as a bottle and deforms (deforms to return to its original shape by removing the force or applying a restoring force by temporary deformation by applying force) If this is difficult, the following method can be suitably employed.

  That is, firstly, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 of Patent Document 4, “a sterilized body made of a fluid, the periphery of which is made of a material having a sterilizing action and which transmits ultraviolet light, circulates. A light source disposed outside the flow channel and emitting ultraviolet light having a sterilizing effect, and irradiating the sterilized body flowing through the flow channel with the ultraviolet light emitted from the light source The light source is composed of a plurality of “ultraviolet light emitting elements that emit ultraviolet light having a sterilizing effect”, and condenses the ultraviolet light emitted from each ultraviolet light emitting element. The ultraviolet ray sterilized apparatus is characterized by irradiating the object to be sterilized with the ultraviolet light condensed by the light collecting device (instead of the flow path, the flow path is disposed). To be sterilized) Place Hama containers (also referred to as method 1.) Method with ultraviolet irradiation is preferably employed.

  Second, a large number of DUV-LEDs are aligned over the entire inner surface facing the container of a cylindrical base material that can accommodate the container, and a high forward direction using a step-up DC-DC converter and a charge pump. A method (also referred to as method 2) in which an ultraviolet ray is irradiated at a high output by passing an electric current can be suitably employed.

  In addition, when the shape of the ultraviolet light transmissive container can be freely set, a thin container (for example, a flat plate) may be used, and the ultraviolet light intensity may be increased as necessary. For example, when the ultraviolet light transmissive container is a flexible bag, the bag shape should be a thin elliptical columnar shape (including ones whose thickness decreases gradually in the height direction) or a rectangular columnar shape (or a flat plate shape). It is preferable to perform ultraviolet irradiation by the following method (also referred to as Method 3). That is, in the method 3, the surface of the ultraviolet ray transmissive container filled with the sterilization object is close to the partition wall in a space between a pair of partition walls arranged to face each other with a gap having a predetermined width. Or it arrange | positions so that it may contact | abut and it irradiates with an ultraviolet-ray from the 1 or 2 ultraviolet-ray light emission surface provided in one or both of two surfaces where the said pair of partition faces. At this time, when only the surface of one partition is an ultraviolet light emitting surface, the surface of the other partition (the surface facing the ultraviolet light emitting surface) is preferably an ultraviolet reflecting mirror.

  Further, in the above method 3, two or more surfaces of the pair of partition walls are arranged so that an area of 50% or more of the surface of the ultraviolet light transmissive container filled with the object to be sterilized is close to or in contact with the partition walls. A method of irradiating ultraviolet rays from two ultraviolet light emitting surfaces provided on both of them (also referred to as method 3-1) is preferable, and the ultraviolet light emitting surface is the surface of the ultraviolet ray transmissive container filled with a sterilized body. And adopting a method (also referred to as method 3-2) in which ultraviolet irradiation is performed such that an area of 80% or more of the surface of the ultraviolet transmissive container is close to or in contact with the partition wall. Particularly preferred.

  Further, the sterilized body is liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like, and the ultraviolet-permeable container is a flexible bag or heat-sealable formed by making an ultraviolet-permeable film made of a heat-sealable resin. In the case of a flexible bag formed by making an ultraviolet transmissive laminated resin film containing a resin layer, the flexible bag filled with the sterilized body is placed on the front side and / or the back side. It is preferable to adopt a method (also referred to as method 3-3) in which ultraviolet irradiation is performed by pressing the ultraviolet light emitting surface from the side to deform the flexible bag so that the thickness of the flexible bag is reduced.

  Hereinafter, the method 1 and the method 3-3 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ultraviolet sterilizer 100 used in Method 1. The apparatus is basically the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 4, and the sterilization target is disposed at the position where the quartz tube or the sapphire tube constituting the flow path in the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is arranged. A bottle-shaped ultraviolet transmissive container 300 filled with the body 200 is disposed. The ultraviolet sterilization apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged such that “a plurality of deep ultraviolet light emitting elements are arranged on the side surface of a cylindrical base body so that the optical axis of each deep ultraviolet light emitting element passes through the central axis of the base body. A light source including an ultraviolet light emitting module 110 configured to emit the deep ultraviolet rays radially with respect to the central axis; and a condensing device including an oblong reflection mirror 120, the oblong reflection mirror 120. The ultraviolet light emitting module 110 is disposed on the focal axis of the light source, and a “condensed ultraviolet light emitting unit” 130 that collects and emits the ultraviolet light emitted radially from the ultraviolet light emitting module 110 is provided. In the ultraviolet sterilizer 100, the four condensing ultraviolet emitting units 130 are arranged so that the respective condensing axes coincide with each other, and the condensing axes coincide with the symmetry axis (center axis) of the bottle-shaped ultraviolet transmissive container 300. Thus, the ultraviolet transmissive container 300 is arranged.

  In the ultraviolet light emitting module 110, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of DUV-LEDs 112 are arranged on the surface of the cylindrical substrate 111, and a cooling medium flow channel 113 is disposed inside the cylindrical substrate. Is formed. Further, the cylindrical substrate 111 on which the DUV-LED 112 is mounted is covered with a cover 116 formed of an ultraviolet light transmissive material such as quartz or sapphire. The cover 116 is airtightly or watertightly attached to the cylindrical substrate using a sealant 117 such as a sealant, packing, o-ring, and the like, and an inert gas such as nitrogen and a gas such as dry air are enclosed therein. Has been.

  The DUV-LED is arranged in a state where the element is mounted on a submount or accommodated in a package, and further arranged so that ultraviolet rays are emitted in a certain direction. Although not shown, the submount or the package is provided with wiring for supplying power to the deep ultraviolet light emitting element from the outside, a circuit for operating the DUV-LED normally, and the like. Electric power is supplied to the circuit through wiring formed on or in the surface of the cylindrical substrate 111.

  On the side surface of the cylindrical substrate 111, a plurality of DUV-LEDs 112 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the substrate so that the optical axis 115 of each DUV-LED 112 passes through the central axis 114 of the substrate 111. As a result, deep ultraviolet rays emitted from the DUV-LED are emitted radially with respect to the central axis 114.

  As described above, since the symmetry axis (center axis) of the ultraviolet transmissive container 300 is arranged so as to coincide with the condensing axes of the four condensing ultraviolet emitting units 130, the ultraviolet light emitting modules 110 emit radially. All the deep ultraviolet rays to be collected are condensed so as to converge on the symmetry axis (center axis) of the ultraviolet ray transmissive container 300. Thus, in principle, the ultraviolet sterilizer 100 can irradiate the ultraviolet transmissive container 300 with all of the deep ultraviolet rays emitted radially from the ultraviolet light emitting module 110 in the direction of the ultraviolet transmissive container 300. Ultraviolet rays emitted in a direction that does not face (for example, in the opposite direction or the lateral direction) can also be used effectively. As a result, high-intensity ultraviolet rays can be irradiated.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the method 3-3, in which the lower stage (A) is a bottom view and the upper stage (B) is a front view. In Method 3-3, a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like, or mousse-like object is used as the object to be sterilized 210, and an ultraviolet-permeable film made of a heat-sealable resin is formed as the ultraviolet-permeable container 310. A flexible “stand bag having an elliptical bottom surface” is used which is made by forming a flexible bag or an ultraviolet ray transmissive laminated resin film including a heat-sealable resin layer. First, in an unillustrated filling step and sealing step, the ultraviolet transmissive container 310 is filled with the sterilized object 210 and further sealed. After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the central portion of the space between the ultraviolet irradiation units 400a and 400b in which the ultraviolet transmissive container 310 becomes a pair of partition walls arranged to face each other with a gap of a predetermined width. When arranged in the position, the ultraviolet irradiation units 400a and 400b automatically move in the direction of the ultraviolet transmissive container 310, and the ultraviolet transmissive container 310 is clamped by the ultraviolet light emitting surfaces 410a and 410b of the respective ultraviolet irradiation units. Yes. Then, the ultraviolet rays are irradiated while being deformed so as to be thin.

  The ultraviolet irradiation units 400a and 400b basically have the same structure except that they are mirror images of each other, and the light emitting surfaces 410a and 410b correspond to the shape of the sandwiched ultraviolet transmissive container 310. It has a shape. The light emitting surfaces 410a and 410b of the ultraviolet irradiation unit used in FIG. 3 are concave curved surfaces inclined corresponding to the shape of the stand bag (ultraviolet transparent container 310) having an elliptical bottom surface. The shape of the light emitting surface may be appropriately changed according to the shape of the ultraviolet light transmissive container. For example, when the ultraviolet light transmissive container is a flat bag (plate-shaped ultraviolet light transmissive container), the light emitting surface is flat.

  Ultraviolet irradiation units 401, 402, and 403 that are preferably used in the method shown in FIG. 3 are shown in FIGS. Each of these ultraviolet irradiation units has a housing 420 having an opening, an inner surface 431 and an outer surface 432 opposite to the inner surface, and the inner surface of the housing is closed so as to close the opening of the housing. An ultraviolet transmissive window 430 that transmits ultraviolet rays and an ultraviolet light source 440 are disposed toward the inside, and are disposed to face the outer surface 432 of the ultraviolet transmissive window (the interior of the ultraviolet transmissive container is filled). B) It is designed to sterilize the object to be sterilized by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, the outer side surface 432 of the ultraviolet ray transmitting window 430 becomes the light emitting surface 410a (410b) in FIG.

  The material constituting the housing 420 is not particularly limited as long as it does not transmit ultraviolet light. For example, metal, resin, or the like can be used. However, it is preferable that the inner surface of the housing 420, more specifically, the surface of the portion that can be seen from the outside of the ultraviolet light transmitting window 430, be made of an ultraviolet reflective material. Examples of the ultraviolet reflecting material that can be suitably used in the present invention include chromium (ultraviolet reflectance: about 50%), platinum (ultraviolet reflectance: about 50%), rhodium (ultraviolet reflectance: about 65%), barium sulfate. (UV reflectivity: about 95%), magnesium carbonate (UV reflectivity: about 75%), calcium carbonate (UV reflectivity: about 75%), magnesium oxide (UV reflectivity: about 90%), aluminum (UV reflectivity) Rate: about 90%). Among these, it is particularly preferable to use rhodium, platinum, or aluminum as the ultraviolet reflecting material because the surface can be made highly reflective by surface treatment such as plating or vapor deposition. In addition, when a metal material is used as the ultraviolet reflective material, ultraviolet rays such as quartz, sapphire, and polytetrafluoroethylene film are used from the viewpoint of preventing the reflectance from being lowered due to oxidation or scratching of the surface. It is preferable to coat the surface of the ultraviolet reflective material with a transparent material.

  The ultraviolet transmissive window 430 has an inner surface 431 and an outer surface 432 opposite to the inner surface, and is provided so as to close the opening of the housing 420 so that the inner surface faces the inside of the housing 420. The ultraviolet rays emitted from 440 are transmitted through the ultraviolet transmissive window 430 and the partition walls (or sheets or films) of the ultraviolet transmissive container 310 to irradiate the object to be sterilized 210. For example, sapphire, quartz, or the like can be preferably used as the material constituting the ultraviolet transmitting window 430. In addition, the ultraviolet transmissive window 12 can be suitably configured by a molded body or a flexible sheet (or film) made of an ultraviolet transmissive resin. Examples of such ultraviolet transmissive resins include polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, methacrylic resin, epoxy resin, alicyclic polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol resin, and the like. Preferred examples include those that do not contain additives such as ultraviolet absorbers and plasticizers that absorb water.

  When the ultraviolet transmissive window is made of an ultraviolet transmissive resin, the resin may deteriorate due to ultraviolet irradiation. From the viewpoint of facilitating replacement of the ultraviolet transmissive window, the ultraviolet transmissive window is like a casing. It is preferable to attach with a detachable structure.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation units 401, 402, and 403 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, as described above, the ultraviolet transmissive window 430 has a concave curved surface that is inclined corresponding to the shape of the stand bag (ultraviolet transmissive container 310). Yes.

  The light source 440 is different in each of the ultraviolet irradiation units 401, 402, and 403, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 401 shown in FIG. 4 uses a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 441 as light sources. The ultraviolet lamps 441 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the inner side surface 431 of the ultraviolet transmission window 430, and an ultraviolet reflection mirror (not shown) is installed behind the ultraviolet lamps 430, and is emitted backward from the ultraviolet lamp 441. The ultraviolet light thus reflected is reflected by the mirror and travels toward the ultraviolet lamp 441 through the gap between the lamps.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation unit 402 shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of DUV-LEDs 442 are used as light sources. The plurality of DUV-LEDs 442 are opposed to the inner side surface 431 of the ultraviolet ray transmitting window 430 in a form mounted on a substrate (not shown) mainly made of a metal or ceramic having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. Are arranged so that The DUV-LED 442 is usually packaged or modularized and emits light with enhanced directivity such as parallel light, but has a certain emission angle so that the light intensity distribution becomes more uniform. It is preferable that light is emitted radially. The number of DUV-LEDs 442 may be sufficient if the emitted ultraviolet light irradiates the entire inner surface 431 of the ultraviolet light transmitting window 430. Note that the greater the number of DUV-LEDs 442, the stronger the ultraviolet intensity. Similarly to the method 2, it is possible to increase the output by flowing a high forward current using a step-up DC-DC converter or a charge pump.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation unit 403 shown in FIG. 6, the ultraviolet light emitting module 110 shown in FIG. 2 is incorporated as a light source, and the ultraviolet light emitted radially with respect to the central axis 114 of the ultraviolet light emitting module 110 is condensed to form a belt shape. A light source (hereinafter also referred to as a “light-collecting modularized light source”) 443 that emits as a luminous flux of the same is used. Since the length of the ultraviolet light emitting module 110 coincides with the width (length of the short side) of the ultraviolet transmitting window 430, the condensing modular light source 443 is disposed in the housing 420, and the ultraviolet transmitting window is formed. By sliding along 430, the belt-shaped light beam can be scanned to irradiate the entire surface of the inner side surface 431 of the ultraviolet transmission window 430 with ultraviolet rays.

  The condensing modular light source 443 is described in Japanese Patent No. 5591305 as an ultraviolet light emitting device, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  7 and 8 show a cross-sectional view and a side view of a light collecting module-formed light source 443 having a rod-like light source 110. FIG. The condensing modular light source 443 includes an output-side casing 125 whose inner surface is an output-side reflecting mirror 120 made of an ellipsoidal reflecting mirror, and a condensing-side reflecting mirror 123 whose inner surface is made of an ellipsoidal reflecting mirror. In addition, a condensing side housing 126 in which a deep ultraviolet light emitting opening 130 is formed and a main body 150 including a collimating optical system 140 disposed in the deep ultraviolet light emitting opening 130. A rod-shaped light source 110 is disposed inside. In the main body 150, it is preferable that the emission side casing 125 and the condensing side casing casing 126 are detachable from each other or can be opened and closed using a hinge or the like. 4 and 5 of the main body 150 are provided with covers (not shown) for preventing ultraviolet rays from leaking to the outside.

  7 and 8, the exit-side reflecting mirror 120 and the condensing side reflecting mirror 123 are substantially elliptical reflecting mirrors having substantially the same shape. The shape of the internal space formed by coupling with the side housing 126 is an elliptical cross-section with two axes of the focal axis 121 of the exit-side reflecting mirror and the condensing axis 122 of the exit-side reflecting mirror, respectively. However, a portion corresponding to the opening 130 is missing.) The surfaces of the exit-side reflecting mirror 120 and the condensing-side reflecting mirror 123 are made of a material having a high reflectivity with respect to deep ultraviolet light, for example, a platinum group metal such as Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt, Al, Ag, Ti, It is preferably composed of an alloy containing at least one of these metals or magnesium oxide, and is formed of Al, a platinum group metal or an alloy containing a platinum group metal, or magnesium oxide because of its particularly high reflectance. It is particularly preferable.

  The condensing-side reflecting mirror 123 and the condensing-side casing 126 are provided with a deep ultraviolet light emission opening 130 in a slit shape, and the collected ultraviolet light is parallel or substantially parallel to the opening 130. A collimating optical system 140 for converting to is arranged. The collimating optical system 140 is preferably made of a material having high ultraviolet transparency such as synthetic or natural quartz, sapphire, or ultraviolet transmissive resin. The collimating optical system 140 is preferably detachably attached to the deep ultraviolet ray emitting opening 130.

  In the condensing modular light source 443, the rod-shaped light source 110 is arranged so that the central axis 114 thereof coincides with the focal axis 121 of the exit side reflection mirror. Since the rod-shaped light source 110 is disposed at such a position, the deep ultraviolet light emitted radially from the rod-shaped light source 110 is reflected by the emitting-side reflecting mirror 120 and the collecting-side reflecting mirror 123, and the collecting-side reflecting mirror. The condensed deep ultraviolet light is converged so as to converge on the focal axis 124 (that is, the condensing axis 122 of the exit-side reflecting mirror), and the condensed deep ultraviolet light is emitted toward the inner side surface 431 of the ultraviolet transmission window 430.

  Thus, in principle, the condensing modular light source 443 can condense all of the deep ultraviolet light emitted radially from the rod-shaped light source 110 onto the focal axis 124 of the condensing side reflection mirror 123, and deep ultraviolet Ultraviolet rays emitted in a direction not directed toward the light emitting opening 130 (for example, in the opposite direction or the lateral method) can also be used effectively. That is, in the rod-shaped light source 110, it is not necessary to arrange all the deep ultraviolet LEDs 112, 112,... On the same plane so that the optical axis 115 is directed toward the deep ultraviolet light emitting opening 130, in the lateral direction or in the opposite direction. It is also possible to arrange them facing. Therefore, in the rod-shaped light source 110, the number of ultraviolet light emitting elements arranged per unit space can be greatly increased, and the condensing modular light source 443 can emit ultraviolet light having a stronger intensity. Further, the condensing modular light source 443 does not need to use a large-diameter field lens. Further, in the condensing modular light source 443, the ultraviolet rays are emitted as a band-shaped light beam, and the irradiation region is not a narrow spot shape but can irradiate the rectangular region having a long long side with uniform intensity.

  In the ultraviolet irradiation unit 403, the condensing modular light source 443 is disposed in the housing 420 so as to emit a strip-shaped light beam toward the inner side surface 431 of the ultraviolet transmission window 430. In addition, an electric motor 450 and a set of guide rails 460 are disposed in the housing 420, and the light collecting module-formed light source 443 is held by the guide rails 460 and is driven by the electric motor 450 to move on the guide rails. It reciprocates (slides) in the direction of the arrow in the lower diagram of FIG. As a mechanism (not shown) for converting the rotational driving force of the electric motor 450 into a driving force of linear motion along the guide rail 460, a known mechanism such as a rack and pinion mechanism, a crank mechanism, a cam mechanism, or a belt mechanism is known. A rotational motion-linear motion conversion mechanism can be employed without any particular limitation. The condensing modular light source 443 performs such reciprocating movement (sliding), whereby the ultraviolet rays are scanned, and the entire inner side surface 431 of the outer line transmission window 430 can be irradiated with the ultraviolet rays.

  As described above, the ultraviolet irradiating unit has been described by taking the case where the ultraviolet transmissive container is a stand bag having an elliptical bottom surface as an example, but the condensing ultraviolet emitting unit is not limited thereto. For example, as described above, the shape of the light emitting surface may be appropriately changed according to the shape of the ultraviolet light transmissive container. For example, when the ultraviolet light transmissive container is a flat bag (plate-shaped ultraviolet light transmissive container), It is said. Moreover, the surface emitting device as disclosed in Patent Document 5 can be used as the ultraviolet irradiation unit.

  What is obtained in the ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention and in which an ultraviolet sterilized object to be sterilized is enclosed in an ultraviolet transmissive container is a container-packed article (for example, a container-packed food, a container-packed cosmetic, a container-packed package). As a quasi-drug or container-packed medicine, etc., it can be distributed as it is as a product, but in order to prevent deterioration of the sterilized body and deterioration of the container due to ultraviolet rays from nature during storage or distribution process, It is preferable that the method further includes an ultraviolet shielding step of performing an ultraviolet shielding treatment on the outer surface of the ultraviolet transparent container sealed by the sealing step.

  As a method of applying an ultraviolet shielding treatment to the outer surface of the ultraviolet transmissive container, the ultraviolet transmissive portion of the container may be covered with an ultraviolet opaque material. Examples of the coating method include a method of printing using ultraviolet impermeable ink, a method of surface coating with an ultraviolet impermeable coating agent, and a method of attaching (laminating) an ultraviolet impermeable film.

  The ultraviolet sterilization method of the present invention can be suitably applied to a method for producing a container-packed article in which a food, cosmetic, quasi-drug, or pharmaceutical product that has been sterilized with ultraviolet rays and is sealed in a container. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Ultraviolet sterilizer 110 ... Ultraviolet light emitting module 111 ... Cylindrical base | substrate 112,442 ... Deep ultraviolet light emitting element (DUV-LED)
113 ... Cooling medium flow path 114 ... Center axis of cylindrical substrate 115 ... Optical axis of deep ultraviolet light emitting element 116 ... Cover 117 ... Seal member 118 ... Cooling medium 120 ... The exit-side reflection mirror 121 composed of a long elliptical reflection mirror 121... The focal axis of the exit-side reflection mirror 122... The condensing axis of the exit-side reflection mirror 123. ... Focus axis of condensing side reflection mirror 125 ... Exit side housing 126 ... Condensing side case 130 ... Condensed ultraviolet ray emitting unit (combination of 110 and 120)
140 ... collimating optical system 150 ... main body 200, 210 ... object to be sterilized 300, 310 ... ultraviolet transmissive container 400a, 400b, 401, 402, 403 ... ultraviolet irradiation unit 420 ... Case 430 ... UV transmitting window 431 ... Inner side 432 ... Outer side 440 ... Light source 441 ... UV lamp 443 ... Condensing modular light source 450 ... Electric motor 460 ...・ Guide rail

Claims (7)

Ultraviolet-transmitting comprising a flexible bag or heat-sealable resin layer formed by making a UV-permeable film made of a heat-sealable resin into a liquid, paste-like, jelly-like or mousse-like object to be sterilized A filling step of filling a UV transmissive container made of a flexible bag formed by making a laminated resin film;
An ultraviolet sterilization method comprising: an ultraviolet irradiation step of irradiating ultraviolet rays from the outside of the container filled with the object to be sterilized by the filling step; and a sealing step of hermetically sealing the container filled with the object to be sterilized. There,
In the ultraviolet irradiation step, the surface of the ultraviolet transmissive container filled with the sterilized body in a space between a pair of partition walls arranged to face each other with a gap of a predetermined width is the partition wall. The ultraviolet transmissive container, which is disposed so as to be close to or in contact with each other and filled with the object to be sterilized, is provided on one or both of the two surfaces facing the pair of partition walls from the front side and / or the back side. It was 1 or clamping pressure by deforming such that the thickness of the UV transparent container is reduced by the second ultraviolet light emitting surface, irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light emitting surface,
The sealing step is performed between the end of the filling step and the end of the ultraviolet irradiation step, or the ultraviolet irradiation step and the sealing step are performed in the same aseptic environment. UV sterilization method. The method of claim 1, before Kifutome step is carried out by heat-sealing the opening of the flexible bag. In the ultraviolet irradiation step, the “maximum length of the irradiated optical axis of the irradiated ultraviolet ray across the container” or “intensity of irradiated ultraviolet light” in the ultraviolet transmissive container is controlled, and any of the objects to be sterilized filled in the container is controlled. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irradiance of ultraviolet rays at the position of 0.01 mW / cm ² or more is set. Two of the surfaces of the ultraviolet ray transparent container filled with the object to be sterilized are arranged so that an area of 50% or more is close to or in contact with the partition wall, and provided on both of the two opposing surfaces of the pair of partition walls. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the ultraviolet light emitting surfaces is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet light emitting surface has a shape corresponding to the shape of the surface of the ultraviolet light transmissive container filled with an object to be sterilized, and an area of 80% or more of the surface of the ultraviolet light transmissive container is close to or in contact with the partition wall. The method according to claim 4 , wherein ultraviolet irradiation is performed. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sealing step further includes a UV blocking step of applying ultraviolet screening process on the outer surface of the UV transparent container sealed by. A method for producing a container-packed article in which a food, cosmetic, quasi-drug, or pharmaceutical product sterilized by ultraviolet rays is enclosed in a container, comprising a food, cosmetic, quasi-drug or pharmaceutical product having fluidity A method for producing a packaged packaged article comprising the steps of filling a sterilized body into a container of a sterilized body, ultraviolet sterilization, and sealing the container by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. .

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